Electoral abuse against candidates may have been coordinated, adviser says

The government’s adviser on political violence has written to the home secretary asking him to investigate the intimidation of candidates during the general election.

Lord Walney suggests there may have been a “concerted campaign by extremists”.

He is urging Yvette Cooper and Security Minister Dan Jarvis to commission a short inquiry to determine whether groups from different constituencies were working together and to document what he calls the “dark side” of the abuse.

The Home Office said it took reports of bullying, harassment and abuse “extremely seriously”, adding that authorities were contacting those affected.

In the letter, seen by the BBC, Lord Walney said evidence gathered over recent months indicates a “concerted campaign by extremists to create a hostile atmosphere towards MPs in their constituencies in order to force them to give in to political demands”.

He writes that “the conduct of the election campaign in many communities has underscored the seriousness of the threat to our democracy” from abuse and intimidation by politicians, both local and national.

Lord Walney said: “I am increasingly concerned about the scale of the intimidation against general election candidates.

“I believe that it is now necessary to conduct targeted work on the extent and causes of this intimidation so that it can no longer continue to tarnish our democratic processes and put candidates at risk.”

On the eve of the election, a report by Lord Walney called on ministers to update and extend the protections for politicians and parliament.

After the events of the campaign, he suggests that the new government may have to go further.

During the election campaign, candidates reported a hammer attack on their office, masked men interrupting a community meeting, tires slashed and MPs being filmed and followed.